“What kind of work do you do?” he asked.
“I’m a counselor,” she answered.
“Like a psychologist?”
She shook her head. “No, although maybe someday I can find the time to go back to school and get the degree. I’m a grief counselor. I work on base helping families move past a casualty.” When she boiled it down to a two sentence job description, it sounded simple, cut and dried, when it was anything but simple. While she couldn’t imagine doing anything else, it was demanding.
“Camp Wilson has had a lot of casualties. You must be a busy lady.”
“I am. I work with spouses, children, extended family.”
“Soldiers?”
She said, “Not usually. Most of the time they see the psychiatrists and psychologists at the mental health center inside the hospital.”
He rolled his lips together and clamped them between his teeth. “These wars have wrecked lots of families. I know several—” He stopped midsentence and took a long sip of his soda. “I didn’t mean to get morose. Sorry. Let’s talk about something more uplifting. Have any hobbies?”
“Nothing very interesting. Since I bought the house, I’ve learned that I really like home improvement projects.”
“I didn’t have you pictured as a do-it-yourselfer.”
“What is now a ‘charming bungalow,’” she said, quirking her fingers to indicate quotes, “was a true ‘fixer-upper’ when I made the first few payments. I spent nearly all my savings on my education. It was either live in a crummy neighborhood until I got on my feet or learn to wield a hammer.”
He laughed. “You did most of it yourself?”
She nodded. “My sister Callie and I worked almost every weekend for a year to get everything repaired and replaced. We learned how to install hardwood floors, tile, and even new light fixtures. We became semi-professional painters after the classes we took at one of the big box stores out on the highway.”
“How long have you lived here?”
“Two and a half years. After I got my master’s degree, I worked for a few months in a large practice with several other counselors in Charlotte. Callie told me about the job opening at the Family Life Center. It was exactly what I was looking for: a job where I could give back to a community that’s given so much to me.”
David fiddled with the napkin underneath his mug. When he looked up, she detected something in his face, something deep and sad. He was on the verge of saying something very important. She leaned forward in her chair.
“The flag on your mantle—”
Andrew picked that moment to return to the table. “Look what I won.” He pulled a long string of pink tickets from his pocket. “Can I go trade them in for my prize?”
“Good job, buddy,” he said. He patted Andrew on the back. His eyes met hers. The hurt was still there but he was trying hard to hide it. “You should be able to get something fantastic with those.”
“Do you want me to go to the counter with you?” She hoped Andrew would say yes. A break from the table would cut the tension, change the subject.
“No, I can do it by myself,” Andrew said.
“Do it quickly,” she answered. “The food should be here any minute.”
Andrew jogged in the direction of the glass counter that lined the front of the restaurant.
“Maddie,” he said. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure Andrew was out of earshot. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Her heart fell. She knew what he was going to tell her. He was the same David Sterling. She’d known it from the moment he’d introduced himself. Maddie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I know you were there.”
He nodded. “There’s no easy way to tell you how sorry I am, how responsible I feel.”
Maddie reached across the table and placed her hand on top of his. “It was a long time ago.” He didn’t move his hand. “There was no way anyone could’ve predicted that ambush.”
“That’s the official story.” He looked down at the table and shook his head.
“You wouldn’t have walked into that on purpose.”
“No, but I should’ve been able to protect Frank.” He jerked his hand away and ran it across the top of his head.
“It was war. I understand that.”
He looked down, rubbed his face with the other hand. “I’m very sorry.”
Maddie wanted to forgive him but she couldn’t find the words. According to every account, David had done nothing wrong. In fact, he’d been heroic in his attempts to get Frank the medical care he needed. It had been too late, but he’d tried very hard.
She knew he wasn’t in any way responsible but she just couldn’t find the words of forgiveness. Not now. Not like this.
All she could do was nod.
Luckily, Paolo soon returned with a large tray. Instead of one large pizza, there were five smaller ones, the size of a personal pan pizza. He placed them in the center of the table, placed some grated parmesan cheese beside them, and refilled Maddie’s wine.
“Buon appetito,” Paulo said.
“These look wonderful. I expected a big, greasy pepperoni,” Maddie said, thankful to have something ordinary and easy to talk about.
“These are more like the ones you’d see in Italy. They eat them only for dinner and get this,” he said, holding his fork in one hand and his knife in the other, “they eat them with silverware.”
“I’ll get Andrew. Be right back,” she said.
She walked slowly, taking the opportunity to breathe deeply and try to clear her mind.
Football. Eight-year-old boys and football.
That’s all there was to it. She needed help, he was qualified, and he offered.
It was going no further than that. Maddie might be attracted to him, but she was strong enough to fight off her feelings.
She needed him.
Andrew needed him.
Without his help, the season would be a disaster. She’d made so many calls, she wasn’t at all confident that she could find another coach.
“Andrew, the pizza is on the table,” she said when she reached the glass counter.
“Look what I got.” He held up a stuffed dragon and shook it excitedly. “It’s from the movie.”
Maddie smiled at his enthusiasm. “Let’s eat.”
The meal was divine—the crusts were browned to perfection, the vegetables fresh and crisp. Pizza heaven. Andrew devoured nearly a whole pizza before he came up for a breath.
“Pretty tasty, huh, Andrew?” David asked him.
“Yes, sir, it sure is,” he replied, gulped down some cola and reached for a third piece.
Twenty minutes later, Maddie was stuffed and feeling nicely relaxed after two glasses of wine.
When the bill came, David insisted on paying. “You guys ready to hit the road?”
She grabbed the takeout box of leftovers and steered Andrew toward the car. He was asleep before they were out of the parking lot.
Maddie snuck a glance at David as he drove. His masculine jawline was highlighted against the window as they passed the lights of the stores and businesses lining the highway. His nose was a little off center, giving the impression that it had been broken. Having been a football player and a soldier, it was no surprise. Maddie liked it. It gave character to an otherwise nearly perfect face.
When they reached the field, David said, “I’ll follow you home. No reason to wake Andrew just to put him in your car.”
It was thoughtful and Maddie appreciated the kindness. “Thanks. See you there.”
They pulled up in front of her house, in tandem, at half past eight. She gently roused Andrew who gave a half-hearted wave of thanks to David before he stumbled into the house toward his bed.
“Let me tuck him in and I’ll be right back. Make yourself at home.”
Andrew was changing into his pajamas when she entered his room. “Have fun tonight?”
He nodded. “I did. Lieutenant Sterling is a nice man.�
�
“He is,” she said, handing him his new stuffed dragon.
“Aunt Maddie, I want him to be our coach.” He slid under his comforter and looked at her. “I know he’d help us win. He’d be great.”
He really was her only option.
“Please. Please.” Andrew put his palms together and begged.
“Okay,” Maddie said. “I’ll talk to him.”
David rose from the sofa when she walked back into the living room.
“He’s bushed. He’ll be asleep again in under five minutes,” Maddie said. She gestured for him to take his seat. She chose the chair in the corner so that she was facing him. “Thanks for everything tonight.”
He nodded. “Have you thought about my offer?”
She looked up into his eyes. “I have.”
“And?”
“It’s very generous of you.”
He nodded. “But?”
“There’s no but. I really need your help and Andrew is begging for you to be his coach.”
“Assistant coach,” he corrected. “You’re still the coach.”
Maddie smiled. “Thanks again. I appreciate your help more than you will ever know. And so does Andrew.”
“It’s the least I can do.”
Their eyes met. Maddie saw the pain, the guilt that lurked in his. “You don’t owe me anything,” she said.
“Maybe I don’t, but if Frank were here, he’d be able to coach. I’m just stepping in for him. Can you look at it that way?”
Maddie fought the tears welling up in her eyes. She nodded. “I can,” she said in a whisper.
He rose and walked over to her chair. He knelt in front of her. “If you ever want to talk about it, ask me anything, I—”
It hurt too much to look into his eyes. “No. It took everything I had to crawl out of the depression I sank into after Frank’s death. I’ve accepted it, moved on. I don’t want to reopen those wounds.”
He nodded. “If you ever change your mind, I’m here.”
“I won’t,” Maddie said.
“There’s one thing I really need to say. Then we can close the book on it forever, if you want.” He took her hand in his.
For a long time after the marines in Dress Blues had shown up on her door, she’d wondered what Frank’s last thought had been, if he’d called for her. If he’d been in pain. But not anymore. Not for a long time.
“Please,” he said.
“Okay,” she said, reluctantly.
“Frank was a good man, Maddie. I was proud to serve beside him.”
His words touched her more than she expected. “Thank you.”
His cologne was woodsy and clean and it triggered something deep inside her. Attraction, a feeling she’d thought was lost to her, stirred in her gut. She fought it, reminded herself that he was off-limits. For lots of reasons. But it wasn’t easy.
Maddie took back her hand and rose. She had to put some distance between them. “I’ll see you at the football field?”
He nodded. “I’ll be there, Coach.”
...
I’m not attracted to Maddie. It’s just heat. Nothing more.
Not only was Maddie beautiful, she was deep. Wise. Soulful.
He needed her forgiveness. He needed her to know the weight he carried with him, every hour of every day. Maybe her forgiveness would ease some of it. He’d tried everything else.
Maddie was the kind of woman who would’ve scared the hell out of him if he had been interested.
But he wasn’t. Not in that way.
Frank had been a lucky man.
In more ways than one.
David looked at the clock beside his bed for the hundredth time. Rolling over on his back and placing his hands behind his head, he tried to remember the last time he was awake at two in the morning thinking about a girl he barely knew, or, for that matter, one he did know. He had to be up for his morning run in only three hours and he’d yet to even doze.
As soon as he’d gotten home from Maddie’s house, he’d hit the shower, turning the water past freezing all the way to January in Alaska, hoping he could shake the intensity of the physical attraction he felt for her.
It was overwhelming. Like nothing he’d ever felt.
He tried not to imagine her wearing one of his old football jerseys. He shivered at the thought.
The more he tried not to focus on the image, the clearer it became.
There would be plenty of time for love in his life. Time to settle down with a beautiful wife and have a family. In Mississippi. Far from the military. Far from his memories of war and loss, sand and guns.
A new life as a civilian.
With a groan, he turned over onto his side and tried to think about anything other than Maddie Westerfield.
...
She dreaded the meeting. The parents had already had a full twenty-four hours to call each other and discuss her incompetence. They would come well-prepared. It was especially galling that they were all willing to complain about her as a coach, but unwilling to help.
She also dreaded seeing David.
It was so strange, after all these years, to meet someone who’d known Frank. Someone who had lived and worked with him, day in and day out. Been there when he’d died.
David was doing this for Frank and Andrew. Not for her.
She breathed a sigh of relief. It wouldn’t be easy to be this close to the marine for the whole season but it would be good for the boys and it might ease his guilt a little. She hoped it would. There was nothing for him to feel guilty about. He’d been following orders. No one could have anticipated the ambush.
Least of all Lieutenant Sterling.
Football. Only a few short weeks of practice and games and then she never had to see him again.
Dressed in shorts and a cotton button-down for the meeting, Maddie realized she had an hour before it was time to pick up Andrew. She headed toward the elementary school. It would be nice to be the first car in the carpool line for once.
When Andrew got into the car, he looked like he dreaded the meeting as much as she did.
Trying to keep her voice light, Maddie said, “Hey, kiddo, how was school?”
“Okay, I guess.”
“Are you ready for the football meeting?” She snuck a glance in the rearview mirror. Andrew chewed on his lip.
“I guess. I’m a little worried.” The last two words were only a murmur.
“It’ll all work out fine. I promise.”
“Is Lieutenant Sterling going to be our coach?” He asked.
“Nope, I’m still the coach, but he’s agreed to be my assistant and teach me everything I need to know about football.”
“We have a game a week from Saturday. I really don’t want to lose our first game, especially since we were the champions last year. We didn’t lose a single game.”
“We’re not going to lose our first game. As a matter of fact, Lieutenant Sterling is coming over tonight for my first real football lesson.”
Andrew sighed loudly in the backseat.
So much for inspiring confidence.
For the second day in a row, they were the first to reach the field. Maddie sat down on the bleachers and hoped David would arrive before the other parents came and started screaming again. Something about the way he’d handled things yesterday made her feel like he could tackle anything, or anyone, and come out on top. He made her feel safe. From the moment he’d walked into the group of angry parents and taken her whistle, the situation was under control. Everyone else realized it, too.
There was nothing sexier than a man who knew how to take charge. All of her psychology training hadn’t erased the primal craving for an alpha-male.
Parents and kids arrived. One by one they walked past, snuck glances at her and took seats far up into the bleachers. No one said a word, although a few of the kids gave Andrew sympathetic nods and pats on the shoulder.
A few minutes later, David pulled into the parking lot. He walked toward the
field. Confident. Self-assured. A wave of relief washed over her. He stood in front of the bleachers, looked directly at the players and the parents, and took control of the meeting immediately.
“Last night, Coach Maddie and I came up with a plan. I’m Lieutenant David Sterling. I’m stationed here at Camp Wilson and I’ve agreed to help with the team this year. She and I will coach the team together, but she will remain the head coach.” He paced in front of the bleachers, hands on hips. “I find it very interesting that all of you were ready to tar and feather her yesterday, yet not a single one of you offered to help out when she called you over the weekend. She’s trying to do a good thing and help the boys out so they can play this year.” He stopped at the midpoint of the bleachers. “Rule One: all of you will respect her. Rule Two: you will recognize her authority as the coach of this team. Rule Three: if you don’t follow rules one and two, your kid won’t be playing. Any questions?”
No one said a word. And no one moved.
“Good. Last chance for questions and I’m moving on to the practice schedule.”
“Are you the same Sterling who played for Ole Miss about ten years ago?” A deep voice shouted from the back of the crowd.
“Yes, sir, I was a running back in college. So, hopefully, you’ll all realize that I have the experience to help Coach Maddie lead this team to a successful season.”
“You’re the David Sterling, right? The guy who turned down a huge pro contract to join the marines after your brother was killed in Afghanistan?”
“Yes, sir,” he answered, the words clipped, his jaw clenched.
Maddie’s heart went out to him. She hadn’t known about his brother dying over there.
The crowd buzzed with chatter.
“Hey,” he yelled over the crowd noise. “Have your boys here on time for the next practice. We’re playing catch-up since yesterday’s practice was such a disaster. See you then.”
He dismissed the crowd with a wave.
The meeting had lasted less than five minutes and it was a total success.
The tension began seeping out of Maddie’s neck and shoulders, and she took the first easy breath of the day. The players and parents were heading toward their cars and she hadn’t had to utter a single word.
Coach Maddie and the Marine Page 4